NEET PG Counselling 2023: Health Ministry reduces cut-off percentile to zero across all categories

NEET-PG 2023: What does the zero cut-off mean for medical aspirants?

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) is a national-level entrance exam for admission to various MD/MS and PG Diploma courses in India. The exam is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) and the counselling is done by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).

The NEET-PG 2023 exam was held on January 23, 2023 and the results were declared on February 14, 2023. The exam was taken by 2,06,000 candidates and the cut-off percentile was 50th for unreserved categories, 45th for PwD categories and 40th for reserved category students.

However, on September 20, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued a notice that reduced the qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2023 to 'zero' across all categories. This means that all candidates who appeared for the NEET-PG 2023 exam will now become eligible to participate in the postgraduate medical counselling process.

Why was the cut-off reduced to zero?

The decision to reduce the cut-off to zero was taken by the MoHFW in consultation with the NBE and the MCC, after considering the availability of seats, the number of qualified candidates and the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country.

According to the MoHFW, the reduction of cut-off percentile is a one-time measure for the academic year 2023-24 only and will not be applicable for any subsequent academic years.

The main objective of the decision is to fill up all the vacant seats in the postgraduate medical courses and to ensure that there is no shortage of doctors in the country, especially in the wake of the pandemic.

The MoHFW also stated that the reduction of cut-off percentile will not compromise the quality of medical education or the standards of medical practice, as the candidates will still have to undergo rigorous training and assessment during their course of study.

How will the counselling process work?

The MCC, which is responsible for conducting the online counselling for 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, Deemed Universities, Central Universities, ESIC and AFMC institutes, has reopened the registration and choice filling for the third round of counselling from September 21, 2023 to September 23, 2023.

The candidates who have become eligible after the reduction of percentile will get the opportunity to register for the counselling and fill their choices of colleges and courses. The candidates who are already registered will also be allowed to edit their choices.

The seat allotment result for the third round of counselling will be declared on September 25, 2023 and the candidates will have to report to their allotted colleges from September 26, 2023 to September 30, 2023.

The MCC will also conduct a mop-up round of counselling for the vacant seats in Deemed Universities, Central Universities, ESIC and AFMC institutes from October 4, 2023 to October 6, 2023. The seat allotment result for the mop-up round will be declared on October 8, 2023 and the candidates will have to report to their allotted colleges from October 9, 2023 to October 12, 2023.

The state counselling authorities will conduct the counselling for the 50% state quota seats and the private medical colleges in their respective states. The candidates will have to check the websites of their state counselling authorities for the schedule and the procedure of the state counselling.

What are the reactions of the medical fraternity and the students?

The decision to reduce the cut-off to zero has evoked mixed reactions from the medical fraternity and the students.

Some medical bodies and experts have welcomed the decision, saying that it will help in filling up all the clinical and non-clinical seats and in increasing the number of doctors in the country. They have also argued that the candidates who have cleared the rigorous syllabus of MBBS and have appeared for the NEET-PG exam are competent enough to pursue the postgraduate courses.

However, some medical associations and students have opposed the decision, saying that it will dilute the quality of medical education and the standards of medical practice. They have also expressed concern over the high fees and the lack of transparency in the private medical colleges. They have demanded that the cut-off percentile should be restored to the previous levels and that the counselling process should be fair and merit-based .

What are the implications of the decision?

The decision to reduce the cut-off to zero has some implications for the medical aspirants and the healthcare system in India.

- The decision will increase the number of candidates who will be eligible for the counselling and the admission to the postgraduate medical courses. This will create more competition and more options for the candidates. However, it will also create more confusion and uncertainty for the candidates, as they will have to make quick and informed choices among the various colleges and courses.

- The decision will also increase the number of seats that will be filled in the postgraduate medical courses. This will help in addressing the shortage of doctors and specialists in the country, especially in the rural and remote areas. However, it will also pose some challenges in ensuring the quality of medical education and the standards of medical practice, as the candidates will have to undergo rigorous training and assessment during their course of study.

- The decision will also have an impact on the fees and the transparency of the private medical colleges. The private medical colleges, which account for more than 50% of the postgraduate medical seats in the country, charge high fees and donations from the candidates. The reduction of cut-off percentile may increase the demand and the supply of the seats in the private medical colleges, which may affect the fees and the transparency of the admission process. The candidates will have to be vigilant and aware of the rules and regulations of the private medical colleges and the state counselling authorities.

Conclusion

The NEET-PG 2023 cut-off reduced to 'zero' percentile is a one-time measure for the academic year 2023-24 only and will not be applicable for any subsequent academic years. The decision has been taken by the MoHFW in consultation with the NBE and the MCC, after considering the availability of seats, the number of qualified candidates and the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country.

The decision has some advantages and disadvantages for the medical aspirants and the healthcare system in India. The decision will increase the number of candidates who will be eligible for the counselling and the admission to the postgraduate medical courses. This will create more competition and more options for the candidates. However, it will also create more confusion and uncertainty for the candidates, as they will have to make quick and informed choices among the various colleges and courses.

The decision will also increase the number of seats that will be filled in the postgraduate medical courses. This will help in addressing the shortage of doctors and specialists in the country, especially in the rural and remote areas. However, it will also pose some challenges in ensuring the quality of medical education and the standards of medical practice, as the candidates will have to undergo rigorous training and assessment during their course of study.

The decision will also have an impact on the fees and the transparency of the private medical colleges. The private medical colleges, which account for more than 50% of the postgraduate medical seats in the country, charge high fees and donations from the candidates. The reduction of cut-off percentile may increase the demand and the supply of the seats in the private medical colleges, which may affect the fees and the transparency of the admission process. The candidates will have to be vigilant and aware of the rules and regulations of the private medical colleges and the state counselling authorities.

The decision to reduce the cut-off to zero has evoked mixed reactions from the medical fraternity and the students. Some medical bodies and experts have welcomed the decision, saying that it will help in filling up all the clinical and non-clinical seats and in increasing the number of doctors in the country. However, some medical associations and students have opposed the decision, saying that it will dilute the quality of medical education and the standards of medical practice.

The NEET-PG 2023 counselling process is currently underway and the candidates are advised to check the websites of the MCC and the state counselling authorities for the latest updates and information. The candidates are also advised to be careful and cautious while choosing their colleges and courses and to follow the guidelines and instructions of the counselling authorities. The candidates are also advised to prepare well for their postgraduate courses and to strive for excellence.

Source: 

(1) NEET PG 2023: Health ministry reduces cut-off to zero across all categories. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/neet-pg-2023-health-ministry-reduces-cut-off-to-zero-across-all-categories-11695228307602.html.

(2) NEET-PG 2023 Cut-Off Percentile Reduced To Zero Across Categories. https://www.ndtv.com/education/neet-pg-2023-cut-off-percentile-reduced-to-zero-across-categories-4407124.

(3) Unjust and Biased Decision: Udhayanidhi Stalin Opposes NEET PG 2023 Revised Qualifying Cut-Off Percentile. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/unjust-and-biased-decision-udhayanidhi-stalin-oppose-neet-pg-2023-revised-qualifying-cut-off-percentile/ar-AA1h1K2H.

(4) NEET PG 2023 cut-off reduced to ‘0’ percentile for all categories .... https://indianexpress.com/article/education/neet-pg-2023-cut-off-reduced-to-0-percentile-for-all-categories-medical-bodies-react-8948385/.